Controversial plan for old coal mine site rejected by authority

Contentious plans for a storage shed at a remote Kinross-shire community have been rejected.

Barnhill Estates wanted to convert a building at Lambhill Farm, on the outskirts of the village of Blairingone. The site was once part of an open cast mine operated by British Coal.

Locals protested against the new storage and distribution shed, arguing that it would add hundreds more lorries to local roads, including the busy A977.

Now councillors have knocked back Barnhill’s application for planning consent, claiming the project is contrary to the adopted Local Development Plan.

The bid had been supported by planning officers, following a technical study by the council’s transport planning team. Officers ruled that a “worse case scenario” with all new HGV movements on the A977 was acceptable.

Independent Kinross-shire councillor Michael Barnacle described the roads department’s assessment of the scheme as “very poor”.

“I don’t think there has been a proper assessment done of the impact of this site on neighbours, the community and the roads network,” he said.

Lib Dem councillor Willie Wilson called for a decision to be postponed, to allow the committee to see the site for themselves. However, members agreed to an outright rejection.

Conservative councillor Callum Purves, who spoke as an objector, said: “I don’t in principal agree that an increased amount of open storage, even with conditions in place, would result in a positive contribution to the surrounding environment.”

In a letter to planners, Jennifer Donachie, Fossoway and District Community Council, said: “A revised noise impact assessment has been submitted, however even with the new information it does not change the fact that the noise from the increased traffic will disturb neighbours. There will be an increase in traffic through the village of Blairingone and on the A977 which, bearing in mind how busy the main road is already, is not an acceptable proposal.”